Means for assembling a plurality of flat articles



y 1952 H, G.IWALSH 2,598,472 I MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING A PLURALITY OF FLATARTICLES Filed Dec. 3, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwue/wtm 16 4/9041? 6.1444; s

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y 1952 H. G. WALSH 2,598,472

MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING A PLURALITY OF FLAT ARTICLES Filed Dec. 5, 1948 5Sheets-Sheet 2 I H/mow G. VI HLSH Ma Agent May 27, 1952 g. G. WALSHMEANS FOR ASSEMBLING A PLURALITY 0F FLAT ARTICLES Filed Dec. 3, 1948 sSheets-Sheet 3 \\\\\\\\\\\\\N&

/ Agen Patented May 27, 1952 I 1 MEANS FOR A SSEMBLING A PLURALITY OFFLAT ARTICLES Harold G. Walsh, Lima, Ohio, assignor to Walsh SpecialtyCompany, Inc., Lima, Ohio, a corwporation of Ohio Application December3, 1948, Serial No. 63,388

r 5 Claims. 1

- Generically, the present invention relates to a machine for assemblingor matching a plurality of flat articles of similar internal contourinto stacked or face to face relationship, and specifically, hasreference to assembling a plurality of key blanks having either a maleor female keyway in the internal diameter thereof in such a manner thatthe blanks will be in perfect alinement. It will, of course, beappreciated thatit has been ratherv difiicult to assemble articles ofthe above mentioned nature, and it has generally been necessary to matchthe blanks by manual processes which are tedious, time-consuming andexpensive. Devices have been provided for assembling disk-like membersby mechanical means, but to the best of my knowledge, no set machine hasbeen developed for arranging key blanks having a keyway on the insidediameter in proper alinement.

Accordingly, an important object of my invention is to provide a machinewherein a plurality of key blanks are disposed around a rotating spindlewhich cooperates with a support therefor, in such a manner that thespindle will pick up the keyway of the respective blanks whereby theblanks will be correctly and perfectly alined.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine for alininga-plurality f blanks wherein the machine includes a plurality of aliningmembers which are operated in unison, thereby permitting a plurality ofblanks having different types of internal contours to be matched duringa single operation. r a

Yet a further object of my invention is to provide a machine formatching or alining key blanks of the type having a keyway in theinternal diameter of the blanks which is comparatively simple instructural detail, positive and efiicient in operation, and capable ofbeing inexpensively manufactured. I

And another object of my invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter described wherein the supporting member for the rotatablespindle is so formed as to center the keyway of the blank upon therotating spindle.

Broadly, the invention comprises a standard in which a spindle isrotata'bly mounted, the spindle being provided with a support, soconstructed that the keyway of each of the blanks carried by the spindleand support will be centered so that the rotatable spindle can pick upthe keyway of the respective blanks, thereby provid- In order toincrease the capacity of the machine, a plurality of spindles andsupports may be carried by the standard and in this situation all of thespindles are coupled by a suitable drive connection between the spindlesand the source of power so that simultaneous movement may be imparted tothe spindles. By thus providing a plurality of spindles it is possibleto match or aline a series of blanks having different internal contours.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe details of construction and in the arrangement and combination ofparts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings forming part of this application, wherein likecharacters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in whichFigure 1 is a plan view of the machine-constructed in accordance with myinvention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the machine shown in Figure l. I

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the machine, but being on aslightly smaller scale than Figuresl and 2. I

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 1,looking in the direction of the arrows and being on a slightly enlargedscale. p

Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly broken away. of the support for therotatable spindle,

Figure 6 is an end view of the support 'shown in Figure 5.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, I have shown a base or supporting memberI0, preferablyof rectangular outline, having a vertical plate" llsecured thereto adjacent one end thereof by" welding or the like. Amotor [2 for driving the machine is bolted to the base In, as at I3. I

A plurality of bearing housings M are attached to the plate H at equallyspaced intervals adjacent to the upper end of the plate by cap screwsl5. A ball bearing assembly I6 is disposed within each housing I4 and apressure fitting i1 is carried by each housing for supplying alubricantto the bearing l8.- While I have shown four such bearing housings, it isto be understood that'a more or less number may be employed and in' viewof the fact that each housing and its associated parts are identicalinstructure and operation, the description will be limited to but asingle unit.

A's'pindle' I8 is providedwitha longitudinal bor I9 extendingtherethrough and is pressed into the bearing [6 at its inner end andformed with an enlarged' hea'd 20 atits" outer end." A drive pulley 2|is carried by the spindle l8 adjacent and secured thereto by a set,screw.21. It is thought apparent that the spindle'"l8 employed:

in connection with the remaining bearing hous- A spacer 26 is dis-.

ing will be of lesser length thanzthespindletabove r described, and, asshown inFigure:1,-the"pulleys 24 on the spindles are all in alinement.

A circular rod 28 is adapt i zt 2elitemljmrough;

the bore IQ of each spindle and is secured to. the

spindle by means of a screw 29tappedinto: an

opening formed in the head 20. .As clearly illustreated inf-Figures 1and: 4, the circularrlrods 28 are ofsuch a length asx toaextendg a,-substantial distance beyondl the? outer face-of "the" vertical plate-1I. The'freeendofgtherod;:that-.is to say that endextending/beyond theouter :faceof the plate l 4 has a support 30 I associated therewith.The: supports-3 (l is suitably Esecured at .itszinner endto the"plateE-J I; as. indicated. at; 3 I and. is formed -witharecess 32:-initsupper? areasin which the rod 28 is seated. The outer end of the support30 is cut away. tot-form a shelf:33rhaving an'arcuate uppensur-face34;"?With reference to Figure 4, :it can-be seenthat a: bearing35:1orf-the outer end of -the rod 2 8 -:is carried :by. the shelf .33 sothat the rod will be maintained in the recess 32; Aspe'rhaps bestillustratedin Figure-6; ithe sides of the supportanarebeveledor-inclined, as indicated at 36, 1 and. as *Wl11' :later be:more-fully described; the purpose f these sides is to: :carry the keywayof the disk so that' the disk -will-be stopped inthe proper position.

A plurality of-idler pulleys 3! are lccated intermediate the pulleys"24, and each of then-idler pulleys is carried by astud-38 secured to theplate l h as-shown at 39.'--='A spacer 40 is locatedbetweenthe'=pulley=hub and thesecuring-means 39: One

of the pulleys 31, preferably the'pul-ley most distantly' removed fromthe" drive pulley 2 I is securedr as shown -at' 4|; to one -end==ofa-linl-42. The-opposite end of the linkis bolted to the plate I l, asshown at 43, and hence it can beseen that "this pulley will function asatightener' for endless belt u which extends" around the pulleys 2 l andidler pulleys 31, in the manner shownin Figure 3.'

" While itis believed that-the operation of rthe machine-is :readily'apparent. to "those skiiled-=-in the art; it may: be briefiy summarizedas fol-lowsi A plurality of rlamination key bllanks; :two different:types of which are. indicated A and-B inFigure 2, arediSIJOSBd'OVGX'T'lLhBTOd 28 and thesupports-30: The motorildsithenlactuatedz and hencerotary movement-will beimpartedrtoeach oftherods: 28 1 Since =the"-.-diameter oft-the rod :28 is:less;thantherwidth-pf thekeywayin the ciated with the various spindles it ispossible to match a great number of blanks simultaneously and also matchblanks of difierent internal contour during the singleoperation.

llr Ama'chine "for arranging-a plurality of fiat blanks having a keywayin the internal diameter iz thereof in perfect alinement comprising abase .memberha spindle,.mounted in the base member 10;

forctrotary movement relative thereto, means to impart rotary movementto the spindle, a support carried-by the: base provided with a recesstherein in which thei spindle is seated, and inclined surfaces on thesupport merging with the recess .lwhelteblirthekeyw aymf the blank willbe guided tothe spindle during rotation thereof for stopping each blankin alinement with the other blanks.

2. Amachine-of the type as laimedzinnlaim 1 wherein abearing for thetree ,endqof the. spindle is carried by said support,

axnimachine for. arrangin a plur litrzoizfi t blanks-shavin 8i keyway.in the. internal;- diameter thereof @perfect: alinementcomprising; abase, a vertically disposed. plate secured-, to said, base, asupport;attached .to saidiplateand provided with a longitudinally. extendinggroove inzzthe upper :end thereof a. spindle extending; :throughsaidplate and being seated in said groove, a. hearing'. carried by: saidplate,;;means-.to irotatably mount .said spindle in 'thezbearingxasource of power; a. drive connection: between the spindle and the source:of power, and inclinedsurfaces on the support mergingzwith the.longitudinally extending: groove org/guiding::thei.,keywaye= ofthe'blank.=.to ithe. spindle whereby each blank .-.wil1-,be stopped inalinement with the other blankswhen rotary movementis imparted. to'thespindle.

4.: A machine for arranging a plurality offlat blanks having a keywayinthe; internal diameter thereof in perfect alinement comprising a base,avertically disposed: plate secured to the base, a plurality of supportssecured to said i plate; each support having a longitudinally extendinggroove inthe upper end thereof a plurality ofspindles extending throughsaid plate, each spindle being seatedinthe groove of each support,apluralityof bearings carried bythe plate,-'means to rotatablymountsaid-spindlesin each'of said bearings,-a source of-power, a driveconnection between one of said spindles and the source-of power, a-sec-0nd drive -connection between said 'last named spindle-and therema-iningspindleswhereby said spindles are rotated simultaneously,-and-guiding surfaces on each of said supportsmerging with thelongitudinallyextending groove for-guiding the keyway of the blank-tothe spindle=whereby each blank will be stopped in alinement with-theother' bla-nkswhen rotary movementis imparted to the spindle.

Y 5.:A machine as claimed in claim 4 whereinsaidsupports--extend--horizontally fromthe plate.

HAROLD G. "WALSH.

.REFERENCES CITED The'followingreferences are of record in; t he fileofthis patent:

. UNITED, STNIES- PATENTS Number 'Name Date 1; 1,391,202 w-Moore-r 'iSept. 20,1921 19 35,236 Baker "Nov. l4, 1933 2,'353;l 84= ':-:No.rdquistJuly :11,=- l944 12,471,402 J Bates May 31;.1949

